What you need to know about China's new national security law for Hong Kong

China's new national security law for Hong Kong went into effect Wednesday, which ironically coincides with theholiday commemoratingthe region's transfer from the United Kingdom to China. The law has sparked condemnation from some countries, including Canada, and promptedfears that Beijing continues to encroachon Hong Kong's autonomy while curtailing a number of its freedoms.CBCNews explains some of the concerns.

What is the new national security law?

The law, passed in China'sStanding Committee of the National People's Congress(NPCSC), includes 66 articles and covers four areas of criminal activity: secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign or external forces. Those convicted of such crimes face maximum sentences of life imprisonment.

The law grants mainland China more powers to insert itself in the affairs of Hong Kong.Among the measures, the Chinese government will establish a nationalsecurity agency in Hong Kong which will not be under the jurisdiction of the local government.

As well, mainland authorities will exercise jurisdictionin "complex" cases such as those involving a foreign country or issues that are deemed to pose a major and imminent threat to national security.

According to other measures, damaging certain transportation vehicles and equipment is considered an act of terrorism, and anyone convicted of violating security legislation will not be allowed to stand in any Hong Kong elections.

Does China have the right to pass thislaw?

The "one country, two systems" constitutional arrangement agreed to when Hong Kong returned to Chineserule in 1997 granted the region political autonomywhile enshriningrights and freedoms in its Basic Law mini-constitution that includefreedom of speech, assembly and an independent judiciary. As well, Article 18 of the Basic Law states that China's national laws "shall not be applied" in Hong Kong.

There is an exception,however. China'sNPCSCcanadd and delete laws listed in Annex IIIof the Basic Law constitution. This can be done afterconsulting with the Hong Kong government but is supposed to beconfined to laws relating to defence and foreign affairs "as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of the Region as specified by this Law."

For laws added to Annex III to become official, they must either be passedby the Hong Kong government, orthrough promulgation, whichis done by Hong Kong'schief executive issuing a legal notice in the Government Gazette.

Thenew law was promulgated, marking the first timea Chinese law carrying criminal penalties was introduced without a legislative process,according to Human Rights Watch.

What is China's justification for the new law?

Chineseofficials have defended thelaw as an important measure to curtail anti-government protests in Hong Kong like those that sprung up in June 2019.

"With hostile forces in and outside of Hong Kong colluding with each other in recent years, the absence of relevant legal system and enforcement mechanisms has created major risks for China's national security," China's official state-run news agency Xinhua said in a commentary.

The law, it said, is meant to focus on preventing and punishing activities "that severely undermine national security."And for the overwhelming majority of Hong Kong residents, "they need not worry. In fact, people in Hong Kong will be able to live in a safer environment under the protection of the national security laws."

What are the concerns?

Critics fear the law is a significant power grab on behalf of Beijing that will severelycurtail the political freedoms of Hong Kong citizens. Theyfear its four areas of criminal activity are so ill-defined that the law could be used as an excuse to round up anyone critical of the Chinesegovernment.

"Thelaw is very vague as to what these things are and how they are going to be implemented,"saidLynette Ong, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.

Sophie Richardson,China director at Human Rights Watch, said back in May that people in Hong Kong will now have to consider arrests and harsh sentences"for protesting, speaking out, running for office, and other freedoms they have long enjoyed and struggled peacefully to defend."

But the way the legislation was established by Beijing is also a major worry, said Ong.

"It is a law that is really with the explicit intention of bypassing the Hong Kong legislature," she said. "It is really a blatant disregard of the one country, two systems "

Ong also fears the deterrenteffect that this law will haveon peoples'behaviour. Already, the prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong,Agnes Chow and Nathan Lawissued statements on Facebook indicating that they would withdraw from pro-democracy organization Demosisto.

Wong said "worrying about life and safety" has become a real issue and that nobody will be able to predict the repercussions of the law.

"Eventhe bravest people in Hong Kong are worried that the law is going to get them," Ongsaid. "People will be more worried than ever before because the government now has more excuses, more legitimate excuses to come and get you."